Last week the Runners for Public Lands team headed to D.C. with the Outdoor Alliance to meet with lawmakers about specific legislation affecting public lands. Representing RPL in D.C. was Executive Director Kat Baker, Director of Advocacy and Education Bryant Baker, Digital Content Manager Aimee Kohler, and Ambassadors Ti Eversole and Austin Corbett. We were so excited to share this trip with the Outdoor Alliance, surrounded by advocates across all methods of human powered recreation.
The week started with a Run for the Roadless Rule event at Patagonia D.C. Runners and outdoor enthusiasts gathered for a short run around the National Mall and an educational evening about the Roadless Rule. Nearly 50 people attended, and the conversation including great questions from the audience and many people submitting comments before the October 6 deadline.
Throughout our time in D.C., the RPL team participated in 30 meetings with members of Congress and their staff, administration officials, and land management agencies. Our team focused on the need to pass the Legacy Restoration Fund reauthorization, the importance of stopping the rescission of the Roadless Rule, and why the Travel Management Rule makes running in national forests safer.
The trip wrapped up with another Run for the Roadless Rule event at Patagonia Alexandria. A group of runners ran along the Potomac before having a discussion about the importance of the Roadless Rule over pizza and beer. We were joined by the Old-Growth Forest Network, who spoke about why the Roadless Rule helps protect old-growth forests across the country.
Featured photo of the RPL team in D.C. taken by Austin Corbett